Removable hitch ball

ABSTRACT

A tractor having a cargo box and an axle mounted hitch ball in which the hitch ball projects upward through an opening in the cargo box floor. This arrangement enables the ball to be used when the cargo box is mounted to the tractor. Furthermore, since the ball is mounted to the axle and not the cargo box, greater load carrying capacity is achieved and the hitch can be used when the box removed from the tractor.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is a division of applicant's co-pendingapplication U.S. Ser. No. 10/162,854, filed Jun. 5, 2002 and titledREMOVABLE HITCH BALL, which application is pending.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a tractor and in particular to atractor having a cargo box and a removable hitch ball mounted above therear axle thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] An agricultural tractor is a traction machine intended primarilyfor off-road usage and designed primarily to supply power to implements.An agricultural tractor propels itself and provides a force in thedirection of travel and may provide mechanical, hydraulic and/orelectrical power to implements to enable them to perform their intendedfunctions. A typical agricultural tractor however does not haveprovision for carrying materials or other cargo. A utility transporttractor is a specialty type of agricultural tractor that combines theprimary function of an agricultural tractor described above with thecapability to transport materials. Configurations may include cargoboxes or tanks for transport of materials.

[0004] As used herein the term “tractor” refers to a traction machineintended primarily for off-road use and designed to supply power to animplement. However, it is not limited to tractors solely foragricultural use but tractors that are also used in other contexts, suchas in grounds care, golf course maintenance, park maintenance, forestryservice, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The tractor of the present invention is similar in configurationto an agricultural tractor, having larger rear drive wheels. However,the operator's station is moved forward of the rear axle and a cargobox, preferably a dump box, is mounted to the tractor behind theoperator's station and above the rear axle. A standard three-point hitchextends rearward from the rear axle, as does a draw bar for towingimplements. To provide further utility, a hitch ball is removablymounted above the rear axle of the tractor to enable a portion of thetowed load to be transmitted onto the tractor chassis. By mounting thehitch ball above the rear axle as opposed to mounting the hitch ball atthe end of the draw bar, a closer coupling of the tractor and trailer isachieved, providing improved maneuverability.

[0006] Since both the hitch ball and the cargo box are mounted above theaxle, the cargo box is provided with an opening in the floor throughwhich the hitch ball extends. Furthermore, the hitch ball is removablymounted to the tractor so that it can be removed when not in use. Acover closes the opening in the cargo box floor when the hitch ball isnot in use. The cargo box is removably mounted to the tractor. Whenremoved, the hitch ball remains available for use as it is separatelymounted to the tractor and not mounted through the cargo box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tractor of the presentinvention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a side view of the tractor of the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the power train portion of thetractor chassis.

[0010]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear axle andhitch ball mounting structure.

[0011]FIG. 5 is a rear perspective view of the tractor with the cargobox removed.

[0012]FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view similar to FIG. 5 with the cargobox attached to the tractor.

[0013]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the hitch ball mounting bracket.

[0014]FIG. 8 is a sectional view as seen from substantially the line 8-8through the hitch ball mounting bracket with the ball removed.

[0015]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the steel structure of the cargobox.

[0016]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the left side molded plastic sidepanel for the cargo box.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] With reference to FIG. 1, the tractor of the present invention isshown and designated generally at 10. The tractor 10 has a front hood 12covering an engine 13, FIG. 3 The tractor further includes rear drivewheels 14 on a rear axle 15 and front wheels 16 on a front axle 17, allpart of the tractor chassis 19. The front wheels 16 can be driven ornon-driven. An operator's station 18 is located forward of the rearwheels and includes a center operator's seat 20 and left and rightpassenger seats 22, 24. A cargo box 26 is located rearward of theoperator's station 18 and generally above the rear axle 15. A threepoint hitch 28, FIG. 2, is mounted behind the rear axle and beneath thecargo box 26. The three point hitch includes a pair of draft links 30and an upper link 32.

[0018] The cargo box 26 has a generally horizontal floor 34, an uprightfront wall 36, left and right side walls 38 and a tailgate 40. The cargobox side walls form wheel wells for the rear wheels with a portion ofthe cargo box being disposed above each rear wheel. Fenders 43 areattached to the tractor chassis and are shaped to partially fit withinthe cargo box wheel wells. The cargo box also has a pair of side framerails 108.

[0019] The powertrain portion of the chassis 19 is shown in greaterdetail in FIG. 3. There the engine 13 is shown together with atransmission 46 leading to the rear drive axle 15. The rear drive axleincludes left and right axle housings 48 as shown in FIG. 4 and acentral differential housing 50 shown in FIG. 3. The chassis furtherincludes frame rails 52 that are used primarily to mount and support thecargo box 26. The cargo box is pivotally mounted at the mounting bosses54 at the rear of the frame rails 52. Lift cylinders 56 extend from theaxle housings 48 to the cargo box and are extendable to tilt the cargobox to a raised dump position.

[0020] A hitch ball 60 is mounted to and above the axle 15 through amounting bracket 62 coupled to each of the left and right axle housings48. A pair of laterally extending braces 64 further couples the bracket62 to one frame rail 52. The hitch ball 60 is removably mounted to thebracket 62 as described below. When the hitch ball is mounted to thebracket and the cargo box 26 is also mounted, the hitch ball 60 extendsthrough an opening in the cargo box floor as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. Byextending through the cargo box floor, the hitch ball 60 can be mounteddirectly to the chassis and still be available for use with the cargobox 26 attached to the vehicle. This provides greater load carryingcapacity with the ball mounted to the chassis then if the ball ismounted to the cargo box. Furthermore, the hitch ball is availableduring time periods when the cargo box is removed from the tractor.

[0021] With reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the removable mounting of thehitch ball 60 is shown in greater detail. The top plate 70 of thebracket 62 has left and right weldments 72 welded thereto. The weldments72 each consist of two metal strips welded together to the top plate 70.The weldments form channels 74 that receive opposite edges of a baseplate 76 to which the hitch ball 60 is fixed. The weldments 72 tapertoward one another in one direction forming a wedge fitting for the baseplate 76. A catch strap 78 is inserted across the two channels 74 totrap the base plate 76 therein. In FIG. 4, the weldments taper towardthe rear of the tractor while in FIG. 5 the weldments taper toward thefront of the tractor. Either direction can be used.

[0022] With reference to FIG. 9, the steel components of the cargo boxare shown. The floor 34 and lower portions 80 of the two side walls aremade of steel. The steel components also include the cargo box framerails 108, side brackets 82 and an upper frame 84 the top of the sideand front walls. A cover 86 is placed in the opening in the cargo boxfloor that provides access for the hitch ball 60. An upper portion 88 ofthe box left side wall is shown in FIG. 10. The upper portion 88 is aplastic molded body that is bolted to the lower portion 88 of the sidewall as well as the upper frame 84. The right side upper panel 88 issimilarly constructed. The front wall 36 is also a plastic molded panelthat is bolted to the in-turned flanges 90 of the side wall lowerportions, to the up-turned front flange 92 on the bottom of the floor 34and to the upper frame 84. By constructing the cargo box of both plasticand metal components, the overall weight of the cargo box can be reducedwhile still providing high strength load carrying structure of the cargobox.

[0023] Having described the preferred embodiment, it will becomeapparent that various modifications can be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

8. A tractor comprising: a chassis including front and rear axles, therear axle being a drive axle having a pair of drive wheels attachedthereto; an operator's station having a seat for an operator; a cargobox supported by the chassis generally above the rear axle, the cargobox having a floor and upright walls; and a hitch ball mounted above therear axle for attachment of a trailer to the tractor.
 9. The tractor asdefined by claim 8 wherein the hitch ball is removably mounted above therear axle.
 10. The tractor as defined by claim 8 wherein the hitch ballextends upward through an opening in the floor of the cargo box.
 11. Thetractor as defined by claim 10 wherein the hitch ball is removablymounted to the tractor and further comprising a cover to close theopening in the cargo box floor when the hitch ball is removed.
 12. Thetractor as defined by claim 9 wherein the hitch ball is fixed to a platemember and the tractor further comprises a pair of facing channelshaving an open end that receive opposite edges of the plate member toremovably mount the plate and hitch ball to the tractor.
 13. The tractoras defined by claim 12 further comprising a catch to close the open endof the channels to trap the plate member therein.
 14. The tractor asdefined by claim 8 further comprising a three point hitch with linksextending rearward beyond the rear axle.
 15. The tractor as defined byclaim 8 further comprising a draw bar extending rearward from the axle.